AUTOMATED PAINTING EFFICIENCY

AUTOMATED PAINTING INCREASES EFFICIENCY

COULD THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY STREAMLINE REPAIRS?

By Ros Macdonald

New automated paint technologies are being put to good use in manufacturing, quickly and seamlessly painting complex designs on automobiles. This is just one of many robotic processes that have time and cost saving potential in both manufacturing and collision repairs.

The technology has yet to trickle down to the collision repair sector, but it opens up interesting prospects for the future of their paint departments. Automated paint suggests a possible strategy for shops to streamline the painting process, and for patrons to customize their vehicle during repair.

Automated paint robots function similarly to an inkjet printer, spraying jets of ink as small as half a millimetre in thickness, and creating precise edges as the paint hits the vehicle. The robots can paint in two tones and create crisp edges without any tape or stencils.

Painting by hand requires masking around each paint colour and allowing it to dry in between, to ensure the colours don’t bleed into each other. With automated painting, there is no masking or overspray – the unwanted drifting paint that can end up on the car or in the painting room. According to Brad Kruhlak, Technical Manager of AkzoNobel, “…robotic paint application provides consistent quality and a high transfer efficiency, thereby reducing waste”. By automating the paint process, manufacturers save major costs not just on masking materials, but also the solvents, razor blades and rubbing compounds traditionally used to remove excess paint on the vehicle and in the workspace.

Robotic paint application also reduces energy costs and lowers the carbon footprint. Since automation eliminates the paint separation process, the amount of air ventilation required is also lowered.

These cost saving implications will turn heads in the repair sector, raising the question of whether robotic painting will expand beyond just manufacturing. Any shop would be delighted to save on time, materials, and energy costs. “If the technology is adapted to the collision repair environment, it could accelerate the process and help remove any human error”, says Kruhlak. The quality and consistency of paint application could be optimized, and the robots would never need sick days! Additionally, car owners could also choose custom designs — a potential upsell point for repair shops.

Painters in collision repair facilities might wonder if a future where paint is applied automatically could threaten their employment. After all, the implementation of industrial robots has eliminated jobs in industries across the board, from manufacturers to cashiers. However, Kruhlak

maintains, “There will still be a need for someone to run this equipment so we feel that there won’t be less of a need for painters but more so that painters may need to learn a new skillset.” In that case, the new technology could simply create opportunities for painters to add new tools to their repertoire.

Implementing automated paint technologies and preparing the staff in a repair shop would require renovating the entire paint department. “The initial cost would be significant, including the added cost to retrofit to any existing equipment” says Kruhlak. Automated paint technologies would need to advance to a point where this kind of upheaval would be worthwhile before they start making waves in repair facilities. At the moment, there are significant limits to what the robots can do in a repair context.

The complexity of the repair process creates a lot of variables in painting that are best handled by a human painter. “A painter makes a lot of decisions on the fly, such as colour match, blending, masking, whether there is enough room for a blend, etc., which underscores the need for human intervention during the painting process,” says Kruhlak.

Additionally, unlike manufacturing, collision repair facilities are dealing with almost infinite models of automobiles — handling huge variations in height, width, and age. Automatic painting might not be able to adapt as easily to every individual model that comes through the shop.

It could be some time before automatic paint equipment can adapt to all the unique needs of a damaged vehicle. In original equipment manufacturing, all parts must be made alike — which underscores the usefulness of automation. When it comes to collision repair on the other hand, personnel are known for their ability to think on the fly and adapt to the needs of every vehicle. After all, no two collisions are exactly the same. Whether automated paint looms in the future of the collision repair sector hinges on whether robotic processes can achieve the same level of flexibility that makes collision repair teams so effective. According to Kruhlak, “The reputation and performance of a collision repair facility will remain paramount.

Automated or not, the results of the repair must be to pre-accident condition or better.”

LIFE IN COLOUR

PAINT—THE CURE TO A HAPPY CUSTOMER

It is an uncomfortable truth that—for many members of the public—the go-to way of measuring how well an auto repair facility repaired their vehicle has nothing to do with the post-repair crashworthiness, or how close to pre-accident condition it is. In most cases, a collision facility is judged based on how convincing a job its painter did of blended the site of the repairs into the rest of the vehicle.

While it seems ridiculous, it is easy to understand why a fresh coat of paint can make all the difference. While most customers know nothing about auto repair, they can see when two colours don’t match.

Understanding this quirk of customer psychology is an integral part of making any major decisions about which paint companies your business should partner with.

While the decision to partner with one major chemical firm or another may, at first, appear a distinction without a difference, a closer look at the facts makes it clear that, beyond paint and paint-related products, different companies offer very different things to their clients.

When it comes to the major players in auto paint, many go to exceptional lengths to add value to their offerings. Some provide partner businesses management suites and customizable scheduling software— which, they believe, will allow partnering businesses to both increase the number of vehicles they can service, and the amount of paint that gets used. Others offer access to proprietary colour matching technology.

At the end of the day, though, auto painting comes down to four things: the quality of the pigments available, the ease-of-use of the thinning and binding agents, the exactness of the colour matching, and the skill of the automotive painter. It’s not that nothing else matters; it is just that, when push comes to shove, a procurement specialist can’t afford to get distracted by the bells and whistles.

To make sure you match your business with the right provider, read through these pages to brush up on your understanding of the state-of-the-art products and materials on offer to collision businesses in 2020.

The hues of today aren’t the paints of your grandfather’s era. With complex glimmers, shifts and gradients, painting becomes a whole lot more complicated—but seeing that shine makes it all worth it.

A fresh coat of paint can make all the difference.

Perfecoat Low VOC

3P PREMIUM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS

3pinc.ca

Perfecoat Low VOC can deliver all the benefits of the Perfecoat system without additional costs. A Low VOC solution from toners to clearcoats, Perfecoat safely meets Canadian and USA air quality standards. This full system of products are designed to enable faster, higher quality and more efficient collision repairs. Plus, a massive online formulation database and brand-new 8,500 colour chip collection ensure this line is a match for the best. Call 647-261-9339 Ultra System™ CC250 Dynamic+ Clearcoat

SHERWIN WILLIAMS

sherwin-automotive.com

Ultra System™ CC250 Dynamic+ Clearcoat expands on Sherwin-Williams® premium clearcoat portfolio with a formula that delivers the same production and profit-driven success in the shop as its best-selling clearcoat - C200. Ultra System CC250 Dynamic+ Clearcoat offers – Same speed-to-detail – saving both a shop’s costs and a tech’s time Same high-gloss finish – in half the time of a typical glamour clearcoat with lower VOCs. Same productivity and profitability – and lower VOCs This compliant urethane clearcoat is designed for use with like-premium Sherwin-Williams refinish systems: Ultra7000® and its waterborne basecoat technology, Ultra 9K ™.

www.symach.com

THE SYMACH CLASSIC SPRAYBOOTH

DryKing

CHECK IT OUT

EHPTM Matte & Semi-Gloss Clears

PPG

ppgrefinish.com

Technicians charged with refinish repairs on low-gloss finishes know that not all matte finishes are the same. The solution is PPG’s ENVIROBASE® High Performance 2.1 Low VOC Matte (EC5515) and Semi-Gloss (EC5517) Clearcoat system designed to reproduce a range of gloss levels over Envirobase High Performance basecoat. Mixing formulas are available in five gloss levels: Flat, Matte, Eggshell, Satin and Semi-Gloss. “Since these two clears can be used alone or mixed together, paint technicians can precisely match any low-gloss OEM finish, or create their own for custom work,” explains Nicole Sinclair, PPG brand manager, collision, automotive refinish.

Ultra® XD Paint Booth

GLOBAL FINISHING SOLUTIONS

globalfinishing.com

The Ultra XD Paint Booth from Global Finishing Solutions® (GFS) leads the industry in versatility and performance. With a choice of high-efficiency heat systems, intuitive control panels and downdraft or semi-downdraft airflow, the Ultra XD will exceed any body shop’s expectations. Downdraft models feature GFS’ exclusive Controlled Airflow Ceiling for superior contamination control and lighting. The patented ceiling design maximizes the effectiveness of downdraft airflow and increases the booth’s overall spray zone – eliminating dead air zones and allowing technicians to paint more parts in each booth cycle. Michelangelo Spray Booth

SPANESI

spanesi-americas.com

Spanesi’s Michelangelo Spray Booth is where high performance meets stateof-the-art design and sits at the top of its class with its new front portal with oversized windows. The Michelangelo is entirely customizable according to all customer requests, size needs, and production flow requirements. Main features include a direct flame burner, cabin pressures automatically controlled by inverter devices, top and bottom lighting fixtures, up to 34,000 m3/h airflow capacity, and a modern electronic control panel display.

Symach Dry King Paint Booth

SYMACH

symach.com

Symach DryKing paint booth has been designed to accommodate the large SUV of today, with high-performance airflow and ventilation, to quickly dry today’s water-based paints and transparents. It is reliable and offers a high airflow to remove the overspray, along with the next-generation PowerLED lighting technology, which provides optimal colour and light intensity for perfect visibility during painting. Innovation is the heart of Symach and in 2020 Symach renewed the entire range of equipment with more efficient designs, a new aesthetic and particular attention to energy saving, for shops aiming to become carbon-neutral. Symach is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company.

2K Revolution

CAR-REP

car-rep.com

World’s first 2K with unlimited potlife Car-Rep’s 2K products deliver professional quality 2-component performance without mixing or activation. Featuring patented Wise 2K® technology the products are always ready to use with a deactivated hardener and resin packed in the same compartment. The hardener is activated when sprayed, which means you can use the product repeatedly till the can is empty. Car-Rep 2K delivers exceptional value for professional smart repair with savings up to 50% – no paint losses, no premixing and no cleaning. Product line-up includes polyurethane clear coats and epoxy-based primers, fillers, and top coats. Genuine 2K quality: chemical and fuel resistance, corrosion and scratch resistance and exceptional adhesion as easy as 1K spray paint. SprayMax 1K Trim Paint Black

PETER KWASNY INC.

spraymax.com

SprayMax 1K Trim Paint Black is a high-quality topcoat for use in spot repairs on cars, motorcycles and other applications. Easy to use and dries quickly. Provides excellent coverage due to its high solid content. Superior material flow and yield is achieved with the efficiency of SprayMax aerosol technology including the Variator nozzle. Available in Black Gloss 3680101, Black Satin 3680102, and Black Matte 3680103, these options on finishes make it highly versatile no matter your repair or touch up needs.

ENGINEERING

MEETS ARTISTRY

A New Generation of Spray Guns

Professional painters understand they are a direct reflection of their work. It is critical to have tools that are engineered for their craft and deliver optimal performance. The DV1 spray gun family revolutionized the spraying process using superior atomization for ease of application and reduced paint consumption.

www.devilbissdv1.com

Spies Hecker® Permahyd® 2K Sealer 5650

AXALTA

axalta.com

Spies Hecker® Permahyd® 2K Sealer 5650 is a two-component waterborne refinish product that reduces sealer application time by up to 75%. When 5650 is used as part of the Spies Hecker system with the single-visit basecoat and clear coat, complete cycle times are significantly reduced compared to traditional systems. Imperium Waterbased Paint

PAINT SOURCE

paintsource.ca

Paint Source Automotive Supplies is a reputable source for all of your paint and bodyshop supply needs. Paint Source is a a proud distributor of Imperium Waterborne Paint made by AkzoNobel. Paint Source sells high quality, yet affordable, paint and bodyshop supplies. Qualified customers may be eligible to receive an Imperium system and scanner installed for use in their shops at an affordable price, according to PaintSource. Please contact Paint Source for more details.

Restore Don’t Replace Headlights!

SPRAY MAX

spraymax.com

SprayMax 2K 2 in 1 Headlight Clear 368-4068 is a convenient all-in-one primer and clear protective coating for polycarbonate lenses. Designed to address minor scratches, yellowness, or foggy headlights. Crystal clear, easy to apply and available in 250ml size. Provides durable UV weather resistance and protects against physical damages such as stone chips. Enhances night visibility for improved safety. Compliant Urethane Basecoat Reducer

REXALL LABORATORIES

rexalllabs.com

Rexall Labs’ 2.8lb/gal (340 G/L) VOC Compliant Reducer line is designed to be compatible with most urethane paints in the market and is available in three dry time speeds and in gallon as well as pail sizes! Simply follow mixing usage and recommendations in the VOC compliant products chart for your area. Contact your local supplier regarding Rexall’s Compliant Urethane Basecoat Reducer today!

3 in 1 Primers

DOMINION SURE SEAL

SprayMax 1K E-Coat Primers

PETER KWASNY INC.

dominionsureseal.com spraymax.com

3 IN 1 Primer

3 in 1 Primers are quick to dry and easy to sand, paintable in as little as 30 minutes. Apply direct to metal, aluminum, plastic, fiberglass and SMC. • Sandable in 15 minutes. • Paintable in 30 minutes. • Great flexibility and film build. • Great filling characteristics. • Suitable for metal, aluminum and plastics. • Large paint gun style fan pattern.

PRODUCT NAME STOCK CODE COLOR SIZE 3 IN 1 WHITE PRIMER SAPW 24028 White 454g / 16oz 3 IN 1 GREY PRIMER SAPG 24023 Grey 454g / 16oz 3 IN 1 BLACK PRIMER SAPB 24025 Black 454g / 16oz

DOMINION SURE SEAL LTD. 1-800-265-0790 / www.dominionsureseal.com

Dominion Sure Seal’s 3 in 1 Primers are quick to dry, easy to sand, and paintable in as little as 30 minutes. Apply direct to metal, aluminum, plastic, fibreglass and SMC. Surfaces can be sanded just 15 minutes after priming, and can be painted 30 minutes after. The products offer great flexibility, a film build, large paint gun style fan pattern, and great filling characteristics. They are suitable for metal, aluminum and plastics. The 3 in 1 Primers are available in black, grey and white. Peter Kwasny’s SprayMax 1K E-Coat Primers are designed for direct to steel and aluminum applications. They are paintable, corrosion resistant and compatible with OEM basecoats. Perfect for inner body panels, engine compartments, trunks, support rails, body filler, fiberglass and SMC. They replicate OEM gloss levels, are fast drying and durable, while offering excellent adhesion. Now available in six colours: White, Light Green, Olive Green, Gray, Black and Tan.

Compliant Urethane Basecoat Reducer

REXALL LABORATORIES

rexalllabs.com

Rexall Labs’ 2.8lb/gal (340 G/L) VOC Compliant Reducer line is designed to be compatible with most urethane paints in the market and is available in three dry time speed and in gallon as well as pail sizes! Simply follow mixing usage and recommendations in the VOC compliant products chart for your area. Contact your local supplier regarding Rexall’s Compliant Urethane Basecoat Reducer today. Spies Hecker

UNITED AUTO PARTS / NAPA CANADA

uapinc.com napacanada.com

Spies Hecker® Permahyd® Hi-TEC is one of the most advanced waterborne technologies available. This unique basecoat formulation not only helps meet Canadian VOC regulations, but also helps enable your refinish technicians to achieve dramatic results in less time, improving your profitability while delivering an outstanding finish for your customers.

GO BIG

MAKE YOUR PAINT JOB SPLASH

A swath of new technologies are constantly arriving on the market to simplify, speed, and sharpen the work being done by auto painters in repair facilities across the world.

Painting a vehicle, to the public, seems like a simple enough task. I mean, most of us have been painting since we were two feet tall. Of course, what we in the collision repair industry know for a fact, is that painting a vehicle is hard.

And to do it well? Even harder.

Paint is fickle. It dries differently depending on the temperature, the airflow, and the amount of static in a room. If the environment in which it is applied is not ideal, the results of even the most well-trained industry professional will be disappointing. And a bad finish is sure to leave a lasting bad taste in any client’s mind.

Fortunately, more and more tools are being offered to ensure that auto painters in the collision repair profession can work in ideal conditions each and every time. In fact, a swath of new technologies are constantly arriving on the market to simplify, speed, and sharpen the work being done by auto painters in repair facilities across the world.

From new colour-matching technologies promising results that rival even the sharpest-eyed colour matcher, to spray booths, spray guns, and other accessories equipped with space-age features—some of which even seem to defy the laws of gravity.

These options can be overwhelming, but the thought of making the paint hardware purchasing decisions for your business does not need to make you feel yellow—or a sickly shade of green.

If paint hardware is keeping you up at night— and don’t worry, we’ve all been there—then Collision Repair magazine team has the cure. Over the next few pages, you will find profiles from across the paint hardware spectrum.

SATA® trueSun™- The Daylight Solution

SATA

sata.com/trueSun

The selection of the correct colour shade for refinishing a vehicle requires a source of light that preferably reproduces the entire colour range of visible light (daylight) as accurately as possible. The SATA trueSun LED lamp which was especially designed for this purpose allows a professional colour shade evaluation and identification within the paintshop. Any rework caused by an incorrect colour identification and the respective rectification cost involved does not leave any room for compromise when selecting the daylight lamp. Even avoiding a single rework covers the purchase cost of this high-quality product. The SATA trueSun provides uniform light distribution across the entire illuminated area, simplifying the selection of the right colour shade. Light intensity can be adjusted continuously via a sliding control. The light intensity remains unchanged for the entire battery capacity. Battery life is approx. 70 minutes at full light intensity. 3M™ PPS ™ Series 2.0 Spray Cup System

3M CANADA

3M.ca/CollisionRepair

3M says it has improved its PPS Series 2.0 Spray Cup System in six different ways, making it better than ever, according to the company. A four-point connection adds stability from the cup to the gun. A new lid locking system makes for easier cup assembly, and a domed lid helps eliminate sputter. A new hard cup is included in every PPS™ Series 2.0 Lid & Liner kit, and each cup features a clear access window for easier lid removal. A wide, flat sealing plug acts as a base for secure temporary sealing and protection of paint in the cup. It all adds up to the next evolution of the 3M™ PPS™ painting revolution.

IMPROVE EFFICIENCY & MAXIMIZE SHOP SPACE

Side-Load Finishing Systems from Global Finishing Solutions® (GFS) enable vehicles to move quickly and easily between work bays on an integrated track and dolly system. For increased efficiency, GFS Side-Load Systems can be designed with extended tracks. This allows vehicles to be fully taped before entering the booth or prep environment — saving up to 15 minutes per cycle.

3M™ Performance Spray Gun

3M CANADA

3M.ca/SprayGun

The new 3M Performance Spray Gun is designed for top-of-the-line performance, faster cleanup, faster changeovers and faster cycle times, says 3M. The company says the 3M Performance Spray Gun is 50 percent lighter than other industry sprayers, thanks to impact-resistant composite material. The 3M Performance Spray Gun is designed with automotive topcoats in mind, and the company also offers a variety of atomizing heads. For more information, visit 3M.ca/CollisionSprayGun.

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JUMP START YOUR SEARCH

Finding new staff or finding your dream job in this exciting industry has never been easier.

Submit your resume at collisioncommunity.com Multiple positions available across Canada

SATA®RPS® – The Original

SATA

sata.com/rps

The safe, refillable cup system for professionals: easy, perfect and without compromise. SATA RPS (Rapid Preparation System) is the ideal cup system for shops focusing on perfect finishes and high profitability. RPS makes a painter’s life much easier, considerably increases productivity and drastically reduces the consumption of cleaning solutions and solvents. The RPS system consists of 3 components only: cup - lid - sieve. This keeps the system simple and immediately ready to use. The sieves are available in two different mesh sizes: 125 μm and 200 μm. Please observe the recommendations of each paint manufacturer. Plus, SATA also offers participation in its SATA Loyalty Program, allowing users to collect virtual ‘coins’ with every cup.

MIXIT™

AKZONOBEL

akzonobel.com

MIXITTM enables painters to do their jobs faster and more accurate while helping managers save costs by delivering real-time business insights, says AkzoNobel. MIXIT is a web application, making it accessible from any device anywhere, at any time. MIXIT seamlessly integrates our spectrophotometer, Automatchic, and your smart scale, for a smooth, hassle-free process every time. Users benefit from immediate access to our global colour database of more than 2 million formulas, updated in real-time with new colours and variants.

DVI Spray Gun

DEVILBISS

SATAjet® X 5500 True Soul

SATA

devilbissdv1.com

The DVI Spray Gun by DeVilbiss produces an even distribution of fine, uniformly sized particles that easily wet-up a surface and flawlessly hang on vertical panels. This gun delivers higher application speeds at lower pressures, enhancing the overall productivity and efficiency of the gun. Easy to set-up and easy to use—painters of all levels are able to move quickly and efficiently while replicating nearly any finish virtually effortlessly. Features a quieter application experience from a soft-spraying gun, ultimately making the DV1 more enjoyable to use. Produces an even, stable and consistent spray fan to apply the glass-like clearcoat finish painters know and love. Provides painters the ability to produce a consistent overall finish across the whole work area—with minimal effort— giving painters more control of the spraying process.

sata.com/true-soul

The new SATAjet X 5500 True Soul Special Edition is inspiring with its wild, beautiful and vivid design. Colourful, fanciful motifs such as dragons, female beauties, exotic fish, eagles and a skull adorn, among other things, the True Soul—Does the well-known American airbrush artist Leah Gall allow you to catch a glimpse of her own multifaceted, colourful life? Leah Gall, airbrush artist and owner of Finishline Design Inc., designed the legendary SATAjet 4000 B Heart & Soul special edition ten years ago. Her new special edition spray gun is available in HVLP and RP technology, in select “I” and “O” nozzle sets. The True Soul special edition is a standard format spray gun with available adam 2 digital retrofit. The SATA adam 2 displays the spray gun inlet pressure with an accuracy of +/- 0.05 bar. The special edition spray gun SATAjet X 5500 True Soul is fully functional and suitable for daily use in the spray booth.

Custom Design Gun

SATA

sata.com/cdg

The Custom Design Gun (CDG) configurator from SATA sets no limits to your creativity. Choose between the SATAjet X 5500 and SATAjet 5000 B models and design them according to your preferences. With the CDG configurator, you can create your unique SATA product in just a few minutes and clicks. The configurator allows you to place up to five images per side as well as text to the body of the spray gun. Only 3 easy steps to create a unique SATA spray gun: 1. Select SATA model 2. Create design 3. Submit order REVO Rapid OR2

GLOBAL FINISHING SOLUTIONS

globalfinishing.com

Quickly cure filler and coatings with the REVO Rapid OR2 from Global Finishing Solutions® (GFS). Producing high-quality repairs, this compact, two-cassette system is designed for full panel repairs or bodyshops with space restrictions. REVO Rapid OR2 is perfect for smaller, quick repair jobs of one to two panels, and can reach any part of a vehicle. Safely and efficiently cure coatings on two different panels simultaneously, while maintaining the correct temperature. The REVO Rapid OR2 moves easily around a paint booth or prep area with no cords to trip over and includes easy-to-use controls and sensors.

SMOOTH AS STEEL

THE PRODUCTS THAT MAKE RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS EASY

During the months that humanity hid indoors in 2020, the marketing teams at many organizational management suite providers decided it would be a good idea to inundate the internet with ads about all the impressive things you could do with their particular brand of management software. Makes sense, right?

For most people, these ads were an irritation. For members of the collision community, they were an amusement. What was being advertised looked—to anyone who had spent any time in a well-organized auto repair facility in the past two decades—like ancient technology.

Where these general-purpose business oversight tools might—just possibly—bring some value to small teams operating on an out-of-office basis for the first time in their history, the specialized software suites used to manage collision businesses have been handling off-site oversight for many years—and far more, to boot!

Of course, the businesses that specialize in providing management solutions to the collision sector did not rest easy, despite their enormous head start. In fact, many started innovating new ways to simplify auto repair operations in a world that was increasingly averse to interacting.

As a result of these innovations, new features allowing for seamless communication between auto repairers, customers, and auto insurers became a standard part of the industry management suite.

Of course, to be featured in this edition of the Collision Repair Buyer’s Guide and Business Directory, meeting the industry standard is not enough. In picking our management and software selections for 2021, we looked for the digital solutions that did more than just ape the competition and offered bottom-line improvements over similar products.

If you are interested in upgrading the software systems that serve as the backbone of your business, the next few pages have all the updates you need to know about.

New features allowing for seamless communication between auto repairers, customers, and auto insurers became a standard part of the industry management suite.

How are you tracking KPIs sans-management system?!

LeanTec Inventory Management System (IMS)

TED GROUP

thetedgroup.ca

You can now keep track of your shop’s clip and fastener inventories with LeanTec secure cabinets, offered by the TED Group. With the most advanced inventory management system in the automotive aftermarket, TED Group says it can save you money by ordering the right inventory at the right time, & the right quantities. Contact us today for more information.

Customer Interaction Platform

PODIUM

podium.com

Podium’s Customer Interaction Platform is designed to help automotive repair businesses enhance their customer experience to promote customer engagement and loyalty. According to the company, Podium’s solution allows you to manage customer communications across multiple channels, from social media to text messaging—all through one handy platform. The platform also allows for real-time customer feedback, which you can reply to either personally or through a series of pre-written personalized prompts. You can even assign specific conversations with customers to certain members of your team. Finally, Podium’s Customer Interaction Platform provides your business with a holistic view of customer communications over time, while simultaneously delivering powerful analytics solutions to your auto repair operations. Quick Check Drive

HUNTER ENGINEERING

hunter.com

The Quick Check Drive system from Hunter engineering is a fully autonomous diagnostics system. Designed to fully scan a vehicle in just three to five seconds using a total of 12 cameras and 32 laser sensors, this device quickly and easily captures, analyzes and instantly displays accurate data readings. With the option to have it installed as a surface or flush-mounted unit, the Quick Drive Check system fits well in any shop.

BodyshopConnect

MICAZEN

bodyshopconnect.com

BodyshopConnect is a multi-language, cloud based management system for both single or multi-store collision repair facilities. According to Micazen, this easy-to-use software puts the shop owner in the driver’s seat. BodyshopConnect acts as a central hub for the entire shop and helps manage scheduling, production, job costing, KPIs, communications and a whole lot more. Included modules, interfaces and display boards which can be run on any platform and accessed from anywhere allows for real time information and automated communications from your desk or while on the road.

ProgiPlanning

PROGI

progi.com

ProgiPlanning is more than so ware—it’s a state of mind. at is what the minds at Progi are saying about their latest development, with new management so ware that provides data to help facilities better manage their goals and targets. Setting targets and hitting them is the focus for ProgiPlanning, allowing facilities to fi nd and track their chosen KPIs like margins, gross sales and key-to-key cycle time directly within the so ware. As well, the ProgiPlanning interface is simple and easy-to-use, to keep shop owners organized and on track at a glance. Direct-Hit, Repair Hotline and Direct Shop Management Systems

IDENTIFIX

identifix.com

Identifix offers databases of continually updated, experience-based information for effectively managing a collision repair facility, thanks to their DirectHit, Repair Hotline and Direct-Shop management systems. Identifix’s Direct-Hit program draws from a database of over 3.5 million real-world fixes, offers OEM removing and replacement procedures, component locations, and even specs and capabilities of all components involved in each repair. More than 100,000 North American business owners rely on the Direct-Hit database and its vast suite of features.

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Submit your resume at collisioncommunity.com Multiple positions available across Canada

New products from UnoLiner systems specializing in Frame Equipment and Pulling

Rapid Hook

Chain Shortener Double Hook Right Angle Pull Clamp

Pull Clamp with Deep Groove Swivel Clamp Bolt-On Pull Clamp

Self-Locking Pull Clamp

Universal Clamp 45mm Manual Locking Double Hook

DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND! SPEED = PROFIT. THE FASTEST SYSTEM ON THE MARKET TODAY!

About UnoLiner:

Roll-Over Bench UnoLiner: Swedish origin, Dutch innovation:

Swedish in origin, UnoLiner has been based in the Netherlands since a new generation of entrepreneurs took the reins in 2013. Starting from the existing UnoLiner chassis straightening systems, they respond to new trends and developments in the car body and chassis repair market. Major improvements have been carried out and the delivery program has been extended to encompass the globe.

UnoLiner Systems B.V. has its headquarters in Opmeer, 40 kilometers north of Amsterdam. An enthusiastic team of craftsmen and engineers work on the latest generation of auto chassis straightening and body panel repair systems. Utilizing the solid professional history of the UnoLiner vehicle collision repair and straightening systems, we are always developing and implementing improvements on our continually expanding product range.

Sophisticated Construction:

Home of the patented UnoLiner car chassis straightening system, designed to straighten cars, MPVs, pickup trucks, vans, SUVs and other utility vehicles efficiently, fast, and accurately. Our main strengths are user-friendliness and quality. In more than 25 countries, satisfied customers work with UnoLiner auto body panel, chassis straightening, and measuring systems. RV8E 8 Ton 18V Handheld

Ford OEM Approved Drive-On Bench

P50 5 Ton Electric Push/Pull System

In-Ground Bench - level with the ground in it’s lowest position. In-Ground Bench

Products:

The heavy-duty UnoLiner chassis straightening bench frame serves as a basis for all UnoLiner auto chassis straightening benches. Machined profiles on the bench frame ensure the comprehensive UnoLiner range of equipment such as Draw Aligners, Bench Adapters, Down Pull Adapters, and Chain Guides can easily be attached and used. For flexible and efficient vehicle body and chassis repair work, every UnoLiner chassis straightening bench is equipped with UnoLiner’s “Quick Lock” Chassis Clamps and Bench Adapters.